The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1887-05-19
ALL ABOUT THE BAPTISTS.
MEMBERSHIP OF THE CHURCH In
THE SOUTHERN STATES.


According to the latest returns, which
have been recently made up from official
sources, there are in the fourteen South,
ern States and the Indian Territory
2,050,985 Baptists. OF these LOGO, III
are white, and are in accord with the
body known as the Southern Baptist
g Convention. This is the body whose ses-
sions have been held in the beautiful
brown stone edifice of the Broadway
Church. The building is of ornate de-
sign and modern architecture, and ranks
with the churches of which Drs. Hemp
hill and Willitts are pastors, as among
the finest and most costly religious edi-
fees of the South. Through three daily
sessions the spacious auditorium has
been filed with representatives from
every South of the Pennsylvania line
and the Ohio river. From Georgia there
were fifty-tive delegates, and Georgia
furnishes the president and secretary.
This makes the fifteenth session over
which DR.. Nell, Chancellor of the Uni
versity, has presided, and the seventh at
which the secretary has served at the
long table.
The reports of the two Boards of the
convention, which control the operations
respectively of home and foreign mis-
sions demonstrate year of great pros
perity. Indeed, 1 hear from all sides
gratulations from almost every body Of
Christians. The year has been one of
large increase in numbers and greater
efficiency than for many years past.
There have been contributed, as report
ed to this convention, for foreign mis-
hions $87, ,830.53, and for home missions
22,O97.20. The foreign stations of the
convention are established in Brazil,
Mexico, Italy, Africa and China. The
number of missionaries is 116, and of
churches and stations for preaching 65.
There are 25 schools, with 5S7 pupils.
Among the many interesting features of
this work abroad was the erection in the
dense population of the city Of Shanghai
of chapel, entirely at the expense Of
native Christian, and consequently at no
cost to the convention. The whole of
China has been thrown open to Chris
tian missions by imperial edict.
In the department of homo missions
there had been 251 missionaries sus-
tanned who had supplied pulpits at 822
points in the South and the island of
Cuba. This force of Christian workers
had gathered together 119 churches, and
had built 62 new houses of worship at
a cost of over 100000. The number of
persons added to the churches was
6,242. The most wonderful advance in
Christian missions, considering the time
and means expended, has been that in
the neighboring island of Cuba, and it
has been described rs never having been
surpassed in the history of modern mis-
sions. In December, 1886, missionary,
named Diaz, was ordained at Key West,
and in the following month u church
was constituted in Havana, which, at the
last report, after one years operation,
contains over three hundred members,
and two other churches have been estab-
lished. An attempt is to be made in the
immediate future for the erection of n
Baptist house of worship in Havana.
One of the most important works ac-
complished by the Board has been that
OF attordlng doctrlnal and practical in
structiop to colored ministers and church
officers. A number of very learned and
able men have been employed in gather
ing these leaders of the negro population
together for the purpose of instruction.
In this work Georgia, Alabama, Florida,
Maryland and Mississippi reap the bene-
hts. There are also twenty preachers of
this race employed in the State of Texas.
About these times there leak out GER
tain little instances of heroism and sacri-
flee which could not be known. perhaps,
otherwise than through the dry details
of annual reports. One of these con-
Germs the Citadel Square Church in
Charleston. 1t SO happened that Just
before the terrible earthquake, which
not only shattered their church, but
which also destroyed many of their
homes, the process Of collecting the reg
ular contribution for missions was in
progress. Although dismayed at the
vast proportions of the calamity upon
them, this church finished their colloc-
ton for missions, while without sanct-
nary in which to meet, and while they
had nothing but the green sward light
ened by the smile of Gods sun where
they could be gathered together. Some
might sneer at this enthusiasm and term
it fanaticism, but to mo it looks like
common old-fashioned honesty. They
did not own tho money that had been
given for specific purpose, and no
right could possibly exist for diverting
1t from the purpose for which it was
6AnOh' 'Sup tu was BIuDu1 uSN6ibuelCSS.
The speaking in this convention is al
ways of the highest order of mort. 1t
takes o tremendous amount Of gall in an
ordinary man to seek to address and in
terest 700 men drawn from the best and
most advanced and thoughtful men of
the South. So that when arguments are
to be made there is general depend.
enoe upon the more able and eloquent
men. One of the Northern viaitoro in
his address quoted the remark of n nris.
oner who had been captured by Rome,
and after his release and return to his
nome, described "a his captors as a "nation
of Senators" That might be a little
overdrawn, but still it is a serious th;n9 ;rro
to take the floor before such q BODY, I9}
the calibre is small and the ammunition
weak, the poor fellow soon discovers it
NOT by any discourtesy of the auditors
but by some inexplicable intuition that
his silence would be golden, and his
farewell be better than his "howdy. y
The sermon preached before the con.
Unnfinn fhio 1NHy